Children Of God (The Family International) + Disney Adults by Ali Raia

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

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The Leader: David Berg

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Pseudonyms: "Moses David", "Mo", "Father David", "Dad"

Born to two evangelical christian preachers, David Berg grew up in a strict Christian home. A notable event in his childhood that may explain his later beliefs and practices tells us that he was caught by his mom when he was younger m*****bating and she made him finish in front of the entire family. He pursued ministry but was eventually kicked out for differences in beliefs and alleged misconduct.

He eventually went on to preach Christianity and doomsday prophesies, forming a group of young hippies and "Jesus freaks" of the 60s conuterculture movement in Southern California know as the "Teens for Christ". This group would eventually become known as the "Children of God" and be associated with countless allegations of child molestation, pedophilia, incest, and prostitution.

CHILDREN OF GOD (CoG)

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Beliefs of the Group

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The general beliefs of the group blended traditional Christian ideals such as God as the creator and the Bible as the word with a sort of "hippie philosophy" that promoted free love and sharing homes and food and each other. Many members saw joining as a way to travel around the world and preach God's word to people.

The group was a doomsday cult that promoted apocalypse prophecizing and communal living. Berg claimed that he was God's final prophet and that he had a revelation that the world would end in 1993. It was his duty to lead God's church through the end of the world, and to do this he believed he needed to convert as many people as possible.

Recruiting Members

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Berg targeted young adolescents of the hippie movement to join his group. He would stage public demonstrations at beaches and common places for these individuals, playing the guitar and singing to attract them. He would also preach about the end of the world to surfers and convince them to renounce their lives of sin in preparation for the coming of the apocalypse. Berg would dress like them and try to make himself look "cool" to blend in. It is also noted that members would dress in cloths and smear their faces in ash to stage demonstrations. As the group grew, it split into subgroups and members travelled all over the world to form colonies in different countries. By 1976 they managed to create over 600 colonies across over 70 countries, amassing over 4500 members and around 800 of their children.

RITUALS AND COMMON PRACTICES

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Berg's "Law of Love"

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David Berg supposedly had a revelation about the "Law of Love", which he saw as the only law of human life. This law stated that everything should be done with love, and that everything done with love was seen as good and acceptable. While this may sound like a great revelation, it actually turned out to be a very dangerous one.

This "Law of Love" actually served as an excuse for any and all behavior that Berg or adult members did "with love". Berg declared that the group had an open sex policy for all adults, and this included with children and any member of the group. By doing this, members were "spreading God's love into the world". This policy along with Law of Love promoted incredibly harmful practices within the group including incest, child molestation and sexual abuse, rape, pedophilia, and religious prostitution.

Berg was a model practitioner of this philosophy and is known to have abused both of his daughters, his adopted son, and his granddaughter. Many children in this group were surrounded by sex daily and were forced to do things with adult members and each other from a very young age.

Flirty Fishing

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In conjunction with the Law of Love and Berg's teachings, women of the CoG were mandated to go out and find people to convert. This kickstarted the practice of "flirty fishing" or "ffing", where the women would go out and convert new members by offering themselves up as prostitutes. This practice also became known as "Hookers for Christ".

Mo Letters

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David Berg was actually very isolated from the rest of the Children of God. One ex-member notes that over 90% of members, including themselves, never met Berg. The way that he would communicate to the group was through "Mo Letters" that would communicate his revelations from God and give instructions for members' lifestyles. These became a huge part of the control that he had over his members, dictating their clothing, food, finances, and behaviors. It was through these letters that he was able to spread the Law of Love and its associated practices.

CONTROL AND MANIPULATION STRATEGIES

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Berg presented himself as the only way to reach salvation at the end of the world. This assertion allowed him to exert a high amount of control over members' lives because they believed they needed to follow his every word. This extended to practices under the Law of Love and FFing. He also used his Mo Letters to communicate instructions for how to live their lives. Through these letters, he would tell them what they could eat, how they could dress, how they could act, and how they could spend their money.

All of the children who were born into the group had no way of knowing anything different and they would be harshly punished if they did not follow orders. These punishments included beatings, loss of privileges, washing their mouths out with soap, and more.

Exit Difficulties

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Fear was also an incredible mode of control that Berg had over members. Ex-children of the group cited that they would frequently be told scary stories about the outside world and the people in it to scare them into staying. They would threaten that they would become alcoholics or drug addicts if they left, and that they would suffer. Members also expressed a strong fear of leaving their friends and families behind. Because of the entrance requirements, members had no one to turn to outside of CoG and were very closely tied to the group.

Another huge barrier to many people leaving was that they were completely unprepared for the outside world. Due to the prophecy of the upcoming end of the world, children did not receive educations and were very cut off from anything not within the rules of the group. They had no knowledge of practical skills such as getting a job or opening a bank account. They also lacked interpersonal skills and could be very naive and vulnerable. Many people fell into abusive relationships or became victims of crimes after leaving due to this naivety.

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When joining the group, members were required to give everything that they came in with to the group. This included all of their possessions as well as their families. Not only were they forced to give all of their money to the group, but they were also required to renounce their families in order to claim Children of God as their new one. It was later discovered that all of the money that members contributed was used to fund Berg's lavish lifestyle that was unknown to members due to his isolation. These requirements left members with no where else to turn and put them in a place of financial and emotional dependency.

Berg didn't believe in medical treatments as God would heal. When members got sick or injured, they were not allowed to seek treatment and instead would be prayed over by members to solve the issue. This included a girl who broker her arm and found a tumor alongside the break.

SOCIAL + CULTURAL CONTEXTS

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60s Counterculture- Hippie Subculture

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In Southern California, the 60s were a time of social movements that challenged traditional American perspectives on topics such as race, sex, and gender. These anti-establishment movements were championed by young adolescents growing up in a time of war and restrictive social norms. Out of this social context arose a "hippie" subculture that emphasized peace and love and activism. David Berg attracted mainly these hippies by offering communitarian living, free love, and sexual liberation.

Member Demographics

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Many of the original members who joined in California were adults around the ages of 18-22, born in middle-class families with some sort of religious background. They came from all sorts of religions but never fully supported the mainstream views of their denominations. Most of them were looking to get away from mainstream materialism and consumerism as they were from middle to upper-class families but were influenced by the simpler hippie lifestyle. By the mid 70s, there were members from all over the world with different religious and cultural upbringings.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

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Vietnam War

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When the U.S. got officially involved in the Vietnam War in 1965, hundreds of thousands of Americans were outraged by the choice. This public outrage sparked protests across the country advocating for peace rather than violence. The 60s hippie movement reached its height during this period, with teens and young adults urging people to chose peace and love.

Social Vulnerabilities/Desires

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David Berg and the Children of God became somewhat of a "magnet for lost souls", taking in people who didn't feel that they fit in or had gone through hardships. Some ex-members sad that they found peace and joy through joining the group, two things that were very sought after during that time period. Another woman was planning on committing suicide the day that she met some members of the group, and she notes having a moment of salvation after they asked her what she was going through and helped her receive Jesus in her heart. To many people, CoG saved them at a time of conflict and unrest.

CITATIONS

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NRM CLASSIFICATION

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World Rejecting NRM

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The Children of God cult exhibited many of the key characteristics of a World Rejecting NRM. Their beliefs centered around separating themselves from the rest of the world and converting in preparation for the end of the world. In alignment with these beliefs, members would seclude themselves into colonies, therefore removing themself from mainstream society. A key issue of the hippie movement that inspired many of the members was a separation from mainstream capitalism in favor of a simpler life. Berg ran a highly controlled group that emulated a total institution as his letters determined members' everyday schedules, clothing, and eating. Violence and punishments became common use for keeping control of group members and they had to sacrifice their previous lives and possessions to the cause.

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Anon. 2024. “Growing Up In A Doomsday

Cult: David Berg & The Children of God.” YouTube.

Retrieved July 18, 2025 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=LCFyGp_m9ic).

Davis, Rex and James T. Richardson. 1976. “The Organization

and Functioning of the Children of God.” Sociological

Analysis 37(4):321–39. https://doi.org/10.2307/3710021.

Melton, J. Gordon. 2025. “The Family International.”

Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 18, 2025

(https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Family-

International).

Vidar, Sara. 2022. “David Berg: EBSCO.” EBSCO Information

Services, Inc. Retrieved July 18, 2025

(https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/david-

berg).

CULT TYPOLOGY

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CULT TYPOLOGY

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Children of God would be a religious cult due to its focus on God and salvation in preparation for the apocalypse. It would also be a doomsday cult due to the prophecizing of the end of the world.

The Leader: Walt Disney

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Walt Disney was the creator and mastermind behind the Walt Disney Company and all of its assets. He began by developing cartoons such as Mickey Mouse that evolved into animated films including Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty that led to his fame and the creation of Disneyland and his theme parks. While it has been revealed that he was actually very shy and insecure, he adopted an outgoing, charming personality in front of the public and was known for his innovative ideas. He was very strict and had specific expectations for those that worked for him, and he had a knack for storytelling that allowed him to influence his employees and the people around him to carry out his ideas. Though he was perceived by many to be a kind and creative man, stories of a darker truth have been uncovered since his death. He was the son of an authoritarian, abusive father, and he turned to art to escape from his pained childhood. To his employees and the people close to him, he was cruel and controlling, had a heated temper, and publicly embarrassed people who spoke out, including his own brother. He believed that the Screen Actors Guild was a front for communist infiltration and was incredibly paranoid towards left-wing individuals. He saw himself as incredibly important and was fascinated with the idea of leaving a legacy, and he would do anything to get that. He fired workers and cut wages when his employees attempted to unionize and armed himself with security guards. Disney was also incredibly absent as a husband and was said to have prejudices towards women and Black Americans in the workplace, as well as being anti-Semitic. His lack of empathy towards his employees, inflated sense of self, need for admiration and public praise, and tight control over those underneath him align himself with characteristics of a narcissist and a charismatic leader. Even after his death, the Walt Disney Company continues to carry out his goals and reflect his core beliefs through their expansion of his fantasy world.

Recruiting Members

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The adults who are successfully drawn into the realm of the “Disney adult” were exposed to the rituals and beliefs of the group at a very vulnerable time in their life: childhood. What separates Disney adults from other Disney fans or park visitors for many is the sense of nostalgia that the fandom brings them. From a young age, these individuals were exposed to the belief systems of the Disney franchise through their films and media without the ability to recognize its faults, such as financial exploitation, poor working conditions for their employees, and rigid portrayals of race and gender. Through transmedia storytelling- continuing to introduce new platforms for storytelling the stories that were special to these individuals as children- Disney creates a world that encourages adults to continue interacting with their products.

Origins and Core beliefs

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After rising to fame with his successful films and tv shows such as The Mickey Mouse Club, Treasure Island, and Cinderella, Walt Disney decided to take his endeavors even further. In 1955, Disney’s theme park Disneyland opened, attracting millions of people from all over the world. Disneyland was created to be a place of family fun, fantasy, and acceptance. Walt Disney’s message was that “all who come to this special place feel welcome” (CITE). People could come from all over to interact with their favorite film characters, create family memories, and experience new and innovative attractions. In recent decades, perceptions of the parks have begun to evolve, with one of the most notable changes being the rise of a community known as “Disney adults.” Consisting mainly of Millennial, childless adults, “Disney adults” defy social norms around fantasy worlds and entertainment perceived as meant for younger audiences. By participating in annual visits, buying merchandise, and joining fanclubs, these adults attempt to redefine the Disney atmosphere.

The Disney franchise often portrays certain belief systems surrounding gender and race through their films, and its focus on younger audiences allows them significant influence over the socialization and attitudes of these children during their formative years. The narratives of these popular princess stories from Disney adults’ childhoods have been controlled by White men for centuries, and they reflect the gender and racial stereotypes of this time. Portrayals of traditional femininity through women as meant for housework and in need of a prince to save them, women of color such as Pocahontas as less feminine than their White counterparts, and strict narratives of heterosexuality ingrain the traditional, conservative views of the franchise and its leaders into the minds of their young viewers. While arguments for more recent evolution can be made, the impact of these messages on Millennials during a time of stricter social views are difficult to counteract in adulthood.

Rituals

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The rituals that set Disney adults apart from other fans and park-attendees reflect increased interaction with and devotion to the franchise and its practices. Core rituals associated with these individuals include annual visits to the park (minimum), “Disneybounding”, or using everyday clothes to resemble Disney characters, ownership of extensive amounts of merchandise such as magnets, Mickey ears, and clothing, and unusual obsessions with characters that could manifest through tattoos or other depictions of them. Another important ritual for these group members is the D23 Expo that takes place every two years. D23 is the official fan club of Disney, and members can join for different perks, such as members-only lounges and discounted tickets to the Expo. At this event, upcoming movies and castings, park attractions, and future plans are revealed to thousands of people who pay hundreds of dollars to be there. Gold members of D23, who have access to the discounted tickets, pay annual fees that range from $100 to $300 dollars. Special membership is required, with only members who have purchased annual membership into the fanclub being allowed to attend. In 2022, over 80,000 people attended. Another ritual that I mentioned previously but want to expand on is the culture around Mickey Mouse ears. One of the reasons I chose this topic is because of the videos on social media that I have seen where individuals are spending thousands of dollars on plastic mouse ears. These ears are part of the larger unwritten rules around Disney adults and the clothing that they are expected to wear. Some of them are modeled off of different countries, others off of different characters, and they can be found in a range of patterns and colors. Purchasing these ears and creating costumes inspired by Disney characters have become key practices that set Disney adults apart. Many individuals see going to Disneyland as a very enlightening experience, associating it with personal transformation and speaking in a reverent way that mirrors religious pilgrimages.

Needs Fulfilled

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By targeting the needs and vulnerabilities of their inner child by continuing to expand on their childhood stories, they bring adults back into a fantasy world that allows them to escape from their adult anxieties and stressors. As people grow older, the responsibilities that they face can overwhelm them- paying taxes, buying groceries, raising kids- and there is no shame in wishing for a break every once in a while. Immersing oneself in the world of Disney as an adult provides this break, allowing adults an escape into a fantasy world of simplicity and fun outside of their daily schedules and responsibilities. Through this escapism, they are also able to join a community of like-minded individuals and feel a sense of belonging.

Isolation

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What many people don’t know about Disneyworld’s EPCOT is that, while it is now a multicultural theme park, its original creation was intended for another purpose. Walt Disney had an idea for a new, innovative community that he would call the “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow” or EPCOT. His vision was for the city to be a planned community that represented traditional American colonialism and industrialization. The community would house 20,000 residents in planned neighborhoods, and there would be a “vacation land” for visitors that was separate from the main civilization. He promised a utopian society with high-speed monorails and new technology. While he had many plans for the future, many people saw his ideas as radical, such as getting rid of all cars, and after his death his plans were never carried out. Despite its failure, Disney’s vision for an isolated, controlled, utopian community reflects those of cult leaders such as Jim Jones.

Control and Manipulation Strategies

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While allowing for escapism from adult responsibilities, Disney utilizes their storytelling to exert significant control over member ideologies, finances, and behaviors. As I mentioned when discussing the group’s core beliefs, Disney weaponizes the vulnerability of children to implant social attitudes, support prosocial identities and storylines ,and control the narratives of pop culture depictions of norms surrounding gender, race, and sexuality. By targeting young children, they can continue to influence these individuals as they grow up in order to create a community of Disney adults that overlook the company’s inadequacies. This allows them to not only control their attitudes and belief systems, but it also creates an environment of financial exploitation. As I also mentioned, members pay hundreds of dollars to receive the benefits of the D23 fan club, and they can spend thousands of dollars purchasing Mickey ears that serve no purpose other than to identify them as Disney adults and fit into the group. The Walt Disney Company, influenced by Walt Disney and his ideals, have “seemingly mastered the monetization” of one’s need to escape the stressors of their adult lives, find a community of like-minded individuals, and experience a fictional world. They prey on these needs by continuing to release new merchandise and place new financial demands on members to remain active within the group. The opportunities for Fast Passes, special deals and hotel stays, and extra food and merchandise encourage membership and increased loyalty to the group. Members have shelves dedicated to merchandise in their houses, special makeup and costume collections, and hold season passes for the parks.

NRM Classification

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If I were to classify the community of Disney Adults as a New Religious Movement, I would call it a World-Affirming NRM. For many people, membership into this group allows them to feel a sense of entertainment, community, and an escape from their anxieties or responsibilities. This reflects an emphasis on individual change and a more secularized identity. There is no required commitment, and membership reflects less of a total institution of control than that of a world-rejecting or world-accommodating NRM. The Disney adult community also exemplifies the 3 main beliefs of a world-affirming NRM: coping with the demands of adulthood and increased potential, liberating oneself from the social constraints of norms surrounding Disney movies and fantasy worlds, and coping with the loneliness of modern society. Its emphasis on commercial means and financial exploitation are also indicative of this classification. While there are ways in which this group may not deserve an NRM classification, the most accurate choice would be world-affirming.

Social, Historical, and Cultural Context

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Disney Adults are largely made up of "childless millennials", around 30 to 50 years old. They have to me middle to upper class due to the demands of membership such as purchasing merchandise and fan club subscriptions. Millenials grew up during a time of change and uncertainty, with notable events such as the Great Recession and job uncertainty, climate change fears and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and the 911 terrorist attacks. These life-changing events had incredible impacts on individuals and their adolescence, encouraging many of them to "prolong their adolescence". This generation marked a trend of delayed marriage, pregnancy, and traditional adult lifestyles, signaling a need for "childish" escape and joy. As a result of this, many became Disney Adults in search of a release from their responsibilities during a time of strict images of adulthood, leading to embarrassment and ridicuule.

Cult Classification

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In accordance with the cult typologies that we have learned, the Disney Adult community would best fit a Cult of the Entrepreneur classification. While the Disney franchise is perceived as focusing on creating stories and fantasy worlds for all to enjoy, they are driven by wealth and power over the narratives of pup culture and media. Followers show blind devotion to the group despite its inadequacies, and the Walt Disney Company continues to push more and more ideas and unrealistic goals that fuel the community.

Exit Challenges

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For many, the Disney Adult world is there only sense of community and release outside of their rigid adult lives filled with mortgages, insurance claims, and taxes. Leaving this subculture of Disney fans can lead to a devastating loss of an understanding and accepting community. Negative stigma is also incredibly present surrounding this community, and exiting after visible devotion can lead to criticism and social outcasting. By placing themselves in a community that continues to face increased backlash, leaving the protection of the group can be especially scaring. Lastly, the money that Disney adults invest into this community can be incredibly substantial, and leaving this behind can lead to feelings of wasted time and money. The dependence that is created by these financial contributions serve as a road block for exiting.

Impact on Members

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While membership into the Disney Adult community means joy and acceptance for many people, it is often a double-edged sword of acceptance and ridicule, judgement, and stigmatization. Social media depictions of Disney adults have become increasingly harsh, taking a massive toll on the emotional and psychological well being of these individuals. The financial burdens that are required for membership can also be incredibly overwhelming and can counteract the need for escape from adult stressors.

Citations

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AlZain DrH (2023) Walt Disney: The entrepreneur. Medium, Medium. Available from: https://medium.com/@hashim.alzain/lessons-in-entrepreneurship-from-walt-disneys-life-2b313f7b623c (accessed 13 August 2025).

Ferrentino, J. (2024). The making of a disney adult: Origin stories from adult disney fans (A narrative analysis) (Order No. 31562764). Available From ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (3106589398). Retrieved from http://login.ezproxy.lib.vt.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/making-disney-adult-origin-stories-fans-narrative/docview/3106589398/se-2

Harris P (2006) The cruel reality of disney’s world. The Guardian, Guardian News and Media. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/nov/26/film.usa (accessed 13 August 2025).

Krieger A (2021) Epcot was Walt Disney’s Radical Vision for a new kind of City. HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks. Available from: https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/walt-disneys-epcot-news.htm (accessed 13 August 2025).

Laemle, Jessica L., "Trapped in the Mouse House: How Disney has Portrayed Racism and Sexism in its Princess Films" (2018). Student Publications. 692. https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship/692

Spradley S (2024) DISNEY ADULT OR DISNEY CULT?: OBSERVING THE EFFECTS AND PERCEPTIONS OF TRANSMEDIA STORYTELLING ONTO FANDOM. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1852&context=etd

CULT: DISNEY ADULTS

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